Book signature feed



Aug. 26, 1930. w CLARK ET AL BOOK S IGNATUHE FEED 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1:5, 1928 Aug. 26, 1930. w, CLARK ET AL 1,774,170

BOOK SIGNATURE FEED Filed Aug. 15, 1928 5 SheetsSheet s Aug. 26, 1930. w, CLARK ET AL BOOK SIGNATURE FEED 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 13.

aF/ f Aug. 26, 1930. E. w. CLARK ET AL 1,774,170

BOOK SIGNATURE FEED Filed A s- 13, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 26, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST W. CLARK, OF HARTFORD, AND CARL SCHRAMM, OF WEST HARTFORD, CON- NECTICU T, ASSIGNORS TO THE SMYTH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HARTFORD,

CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

BOOK SIGNATURE FEED Application filed August 1a, 1928. Serial No. 299,160.

Fig. 4 is a view looking toward the arm This invention relates to a mechanism for feeding signatures to a book stitching machine of the type illustrated and described in United States patent -to Bischof No. 1,485,905, March 4, 1924, in which machine the signatures are opened and placed by the operative one at a time on a saddle from which the signatures are automatically fed to an arm, which upon receiving a signature swings inward and carries the folded edge of the signature into position to be stitched to the receding signatures.

The object o? the invention is to provide a feeding mechanism for a machine of the class mentioned which will transfer the signatures from the saddleto stitching position very rapidl and place them accurately so that they Wlll be correctly stitched.

Generally the mechanism comprises a fixed saddle with a pusher which is raised and moved along the top of the saddle to push a signature from the saddle to the oscillatory arm, and then is lowered so'as to return beneath the next signature placed on the saddle. A fixed guide is located over the top of the saddle to direct the signatures onto the arm and an oscillatory guard is arranged back of the saddle to prevent the operative from placing a signature on the saddle in feeding position before the. preceding signature has been fed therefrom. The oscillatory arm carries a stop and a gauge for accurately locating the signature on the arm and it also carries a leveler that presses the folded edge of the signature down onto the top of the arm and then is raised as the arm carries the signature into stitching position so as to be out of the way of the needles. A guard oscillates toward and from the back of the arm topontrol the rear signature leaves, and a finger is arranged in front of the arm to control the front leaves of the signature.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1

shows an elevation looking toward the swinging arm end of the signature feed mechanism. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a view on lar er scale looking toward the swinging arm with parts omitted to expose the operating mechanism.

from the o posite direction. Fig. 5 is a front elevation showing the adjacent ends of the swinging arm and fixed saddle. Fig.

6 is an elevation looking toward the back of toward the saddle end mechanism. Flg. 11 is a transverse section,

indicated by the dotted line 1111 on Fig. 10, showing the pusher connecting means.

The operative opens a signature and places it on the saddle which is formed of two angularly related plates with the apex at the top. The front plate 1 is fastened to a frame 3 and the rear plate 2 is fastened to a frame 4, which frames are secured to a bracket 5 that is attached to the main frame of the sewing machine, Fig. 8. There is a narrow space between the upper edges of the plates, and the front plate extends slightly above the rear plate so that the upper corner of the front plate forms the apex of the angle at which the plates are arranged.

The pusher 6 is reciprocated through the space between the plates at the apex of the saddle and it is raised above the top of the saddle before it starts to push a signature from the saddle and after it has delivered the signature it is lowered and returned below the top of the saddle so that it will pass beneath the next signature placed on the saddle. The pusher is a thin plate and it is pivoted by stud 7 to a block 8 that is detachably connected by a springpressed pin 9 with a plate 10 which is fastened to a slide 11, Figs. 10, 11. There are several notches in the plate 10 for receiving the pin 9 so that the block ma be set forward or back depending upon t e size of the signa:

tures, and should any obstruction be offered to the forward movement of the pusher, as by the jamming of a signature, the pin snaps from the notch wit which it is engaged and thus disconnects the pusher from the slide which can then move without caus-- ing any of the parts to become broken or damaged.

The slide is mounted to reciprocate on a round bar 12 that extends longitudinally beneath the front plate of the sa dle and is held at its ends by brackets 13 fastened to the frame 4 which supports the back saddle plate, Fig. 9. The slide in its travel is guided and prevented from turning by the surface of a plate 14 that is fastened to the frame, Fig. 11. A rod 15 extends across the front of the machine and connects the slide 11, Fig. 9, with a bell-crank lever 16, Fig. 2, which by an adjustable link 17 is connected with a lever 18 that is pivoted on shaft 19 and that carries a roll 20 engaged with a cam 21 on the main cam shaft 22 of the machine Fig. 1. This mechanism causes the reclprocation of the pusher at the proper intervals.

A stud 23 extends from the rear side of the pusher into a groove 24 formed lengthwise in a plate 25 that is mounted to reciprocate longitudinal? and also move up and down, Figs. 9, 11. His plate is located beneath the rear saddle plateand has two cam grooves 26 lying in which are rolls 27 mounted on plates 28 that are fastened to the frame 4, Fig. 9. The cam grooves are so shaped that when the plate is moved forward it is raised and when it is moved backward it is lowered, and as the pusher is connected withthis plate by the stud 23 and groove 24 the usher swings up when the plate is moved orward and down when the plate is moved backward. This plate is engaged by a bell-cranked lever 29 that isconnected by a link 30, Fig. 9, with a lever 31 which at the proper time is oscillated by a cam 32, Fig. 2, on the main cam shaft of the machine. When the pusher is retracted to its starting position it is lifted b the forward and upward movement of p ate 25 so as to project above the top of the saddle.

, The pusher moves in its upper position along the length of the saddle and pushes a signature onto the swinging signature arm, then shortly after the pusher starts to return the late moves backward and downward and raws the pusher beneath the top of the saddle in which position it remains until reaching its starting end, where it is again raised.

As the pusher moves forward a guard 33 back of the saddle swings forward and holds the signature leaves from flying out. This guard is attached to a bell-crank lever 34 which is pivoted to thesaddle supporting bracket 5, Fig. 8, and which is connected by a link 35 with a lever 36that is actuated at thero or time by cam 37 on the main cam shaf t 2. The uard stands away from the sad e when t e usher is back and swings up to guard an guide the inner signature leaves just as the pusher starts forward, and it remains near the saddle until the signature has been pushed onto the arm and then it swings away, reaching its outer position as the pusher delivers the signature onto the arm. At the top of the guard is a rearward projection 38, Fig. 8, which stands out so as to obstruct the placing of a signature on the saddle before the proper time.

. A furnel-shaped guide 39 having a short front leg 40 and a long rear leg 41 1s arched over the end of the saddle that is adjacent to the arm, Figs. 5, 8. This funnel is attached'to the frame of the machine and is desi ned to ide the si nature from the sad le onto t e arm. A justably attached to the ide 39 so as to form a continuation thereo over the end of the arm is an arched guide 42, Figs. 4, 5.

The swingin arm comprises a head 43 with a front p ate 44 and a rear plate 45, Fig. 4, that have their upper edges notched, Figs. 5, 6, and that are arranged at the same angle with each other as the saddle plates and have a space at the apex into which the pusher advances sufiiciently to push the signature 46 from the saddle onto the arm. The arm head is fastened to the upper ends of two rockers 47 Figs. 3, 4, that are fastsued to a rock shaft 48 whlch extends across the front of the machine frame. The other end of each rocker is engaged by a cam 49, Figs. 1, 2, sha ed to swing the arm from alignment wit the saddle into stitching position after the pusher leaves it and is returning. In the arm is the usual looping mechanism which cooperates with the needle mechanism for forming the loop when a signature is being stitched. As the loo ing mechanism is set forth in the patent a ove referred to and is not a feature of. the present invention it is not illustrated or described herein.

The pusher advances the signature slightly beyond stitching position into engagement with a stop 50 attached to a spring plunger 51 mounted in a slide 52. The slide is adjustable alon a dovetail way 53 fastened to the back p ate 45, and is located in place by a pin 54 carried by the slide and adapted to engage the notches 55 in the way, Fig. 6. The stop is pushed back by the advancing signature and then when the pusher is returned and the pressure is relieved the stop pushes the signature back against a heading gauge 56, Fig. 6. I The stop shown is on the inside of the arm, there may however be a similar stop on the outside of the arm.

As the arm swings back and carries the down and. retain the folded edge of the signature on the top of the carrying arm from feeding position until just before stitching position is reached. The leveler has an axis 60 at one endwhich is rotably mounted in the upper endof a lever 61 that is pivoted at 62 to one of the arm rockers 47, so that the leveler swings with the arm, Fi s. 3, 7. Fastened to the outer end of the leve er axis are two fingers 63 and 64 provided with rolls 65 and 66.

The lever 61 thatcarries the leveler has a roll 67 that lies in a cam groove-68 in the inside'of a bracket 69 attached-to the machine frame, Fig. 3. A portion of thiscam groove is concentric with the axis 48 of the rocker 47 so that while the roll is passing through this section of the cam groove the lever 61 travels with the rocker as one part. The inner end of the cam groove turns up so that as the rocker with the leveler approaches stitching position the cam groove will cause the lever 61 .to oscillate independently of the rocker and turn the leveler out of the path of the needles as the arm reaches stitching position, which position is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Fastenedto the outer end of the'bracket 69 is a cam 70, Fig. 3, and as the arm reaches its outer position the roll 66' on thefinger 64v fastened to the axis 60 of the leveler,

en ages this cam and causes the leveler to swing up from the top of the arm so as to beout of the way of the signature that is fed by the pusher from the saddle onto the arm. As the arm swings forward this'roll asses out of contact with the cam surface is arranged to limit the downward movement of the leveler as it is pulled by the spring.

Fastened to the end of the head of the arm book stitching machine comprising a fixed is a cam 73, Figs. 1, 3, which is engaged by the roll 65 on the finger 63 that is-fastened to the axis 60 of the leveler. As long as the lever 61 whichcarries'the leveler moves as one piece with the arm rocker 47 that is while the roll 67 is traveling in the first part of the cam groove 68, the roll 65 remains in one position on the. cam 73, but

when the roll 67 reaches the active portion of the cam groove 68 so that the lever 61 is turned independently of the rocker 47 the roll 65 rides on the cam 73 in such a manner as to lift the rocker. This occurs asthe arm approaches stitching position for the purpose of lifting the leveler so thatthe leveler can be swung back out of the way of the needles without dragging the upper edge of the signature out o stitching position.

Extending across and adjacent to the inner face of the arm is a guide 74 atthe upper end of a rod 75 that is yieldingly clamped to a lever 76 which is pivoted on the rock shaft 48, Figs. 3, 4, and is actuated at the proper times by a cam 77 on the main cam shaft, Fig. 2. "This guide retains the back leaves of the signature in place-on the arm besidesguiding them when they are advanced by the pusher onto the arm. It clamps the leaves for an interval after the signatures havebeen located by the headin gauge and while the leveler is being'lifte Below the swinging'arm at the front is a bar 78, Figs. 2, 4, which is fixed to and extends horizontally from theframe 3 into position to support long signature leaves and prevent them from curling around under the arm; Adjustablyfastened to a stud 79 held by a bracket 80 to which the guide 42 is fastened, is a yielding finger 81, Figs. 4, 5, that extends across the ront of the arm and is designed to keep the leaves against the front of the arm as they are fed thereto.

After the'machine ha stitched the fed 1. Mechanism for feeding signatures to a 6 book stitching machine comprlsing a fixed saddle formed of angularly arranged plates with the apex at the top and'a space between their upper edges, a-pusher 'movable along the space 'at the apexv of the saddle, mechanism for raising the pusher above the apex of the saddle and'movin it forward and for lowering the pusher be ow the apex of the saddle and moving it backward, a swinging arm formed of angularly arranged plates, and mechanism for moving the arm back and forth from: alignment with the saddle to stitching position.

2. Mechanism for feeding signatures to a above the top of the saddle and or lowering the pusher below the top of the saddle, a

swinging arm, and mechanism for moving .I

the arm back and forth from alignment with the saddle to stitching position.

3. Mechanism for feeding signatures to a book stitchin machine comprising a fixed saddle, a sli e adapted to be reciprocated below the top of the saddle, a sliding plate adapted to be raised and lowered below the top of the saddle, a pusher pivoted to said slide and engaging said plate whereby it is reciprocated by the slide and oscillated by said plate, a swinging arm, and mechanism for moving the arm back and forth from alignment with the saddle to stitching 'position.

4. Mechanism for feeding signatures to a book stitchin machine comprising a fixed saddle, a pus er movable along the top of the saddle, mechanism for raising the pusher above the topof the saddle and moving it forward and for lowering the pusher below thetop of the saddle and moving it backward, a swinging arm, mechanism for moving the arm back and forth from alignment with the saddle to stitching position, and means for pressing down and leveling the foldedv edge of the signature on the arm.

5. Mechanism for feeding signatures to a book stitching machine comprising a fixed saddle, a pusher movable along the top of the saddle, mechanism for raising the pusher above the top of the saddle and moving it forward and for lowering the pusher below the top of the saddle and moving it backward, a swinging arm, mechanisrnfor moving the arm back and forth from alignment with the saddle to stitching position, and a leveling plate carried by and movable toward and from the to of said arm.

6. Mechanism for fee ing signatures to a book stitching machine comprising a fixed saddle, a pusher movable alongthe top of the saddle, mechanism for raising the pusher above the top of the saddle. and moving it forward and for lowering the pusher below the top of the saddle and moving it backward, a swinging arm, mechanism for moving the arm back and forth from alignment with the saddle to stitching position, a leveling plate pivotally mounted on said arm and means for oscillating said leveling plate toward and from the top of the arm.

7. Mechanism for feeding signatures to a book stitching machine comprising a fixed saddle, a pusher movable along the top of the saddle, mechanism for raising the pusher above the-top of the saddle and moving it forward and for lowering the pusher below the top of the saddle and moving it backward, a swinging arm, mechanism for moving the arm back and forth from alignment with the saddle to stitching position, a lever pivotally mounted on said arm, a leveler pivotally mounted on said lever, means for oscillating said lever independently of said arm and means for oscillating said leveler independently of said lever.

8. Mechanism for feeding signatures to a bookfstitchin machine comprising a fixed saddle, a pus er movable along the top of the saddle, mechanism for raising the push er above the top of the saddle and moving ment with the saddle to stitching position, stop and movable headingand a yieldin gauge mounte on said arm.

9. Mechanism for feeding signatures to a book stitchin machine comprising a fixed saddle, a pus er movable along the top of the saddle, mechanism for raising the pushor above the top of the saddle and moving it forward and for lowering the pusher below the top of the saddle and moving it backward, a swinging arm, mechanism for moving the arm back and forth from alignment with the saddle to stitching position, means for leveling the signature on the arm, and an oscillatory guide and clamp movable toward and from the back of said arm.

10. Mechanism for feeding signatures to a book stitching machine comprising a fixed saddle formed of angularly arranged plates with the apex at the top and a space between their upper edges, a pusher movable along the space at the apex of the saddle, mechanism for raising the pusher above the apex of the saddle and moving it forward and for lowering the pusher below the apex of the saddle and movin it backward, a swing ing arm formed 0 angularly arranged plates, mechanism for moving the arm back and forth from alignment with the saddle to stitching position, a guide arched over and fixed with relation to the apex of the saddle at one end, and an oscillatory guard movable toward and from the rear of the saddle.

'11. Mechanism for feeding signatures to a book stitching machine comprising a fixed saddle, a pusher movable along the top of the saddle, mechanism for raising thepusher above the top of the saddle and moving it forward and for lowering the pusher below the top of the saddle and moving it backward, a swinging arm, mechanism for moving the arm back and forth from alignment with the saddle to stitching position, means for leveling the signature on the arm, and an adjustably mounted friction finger extending across the front of said arm.

12. Mechanism for feeding signatures to a-book stitching machine comprising a fixed saddle formed of angularly arranged plates with the apex at the top and a space between their upper edges, a pusher movable along the space at the apex of the saddle, mechanism for raising the pusher above the apex of the saddle and moving it forward and for lowering the pusher below the apex of the saddle and moving it backward, a swinging arm formed of angularly arranged plates, mechanism for moving the arm back and forth from alignment with the saddle to stitching position, a guide arched over and fixed with relation to one end of the apex of the saddle, and a guide arched over and adjustable with relation to one end of the apex of the arm.

13. Mechanism for feeding signatures to a book stitching machine comprising a fixed saddle, a pusher movable along the top of the saddle, mechanism for raising the pusher above the top of the saddle and moving it forward and for lowering the pusher below the top of the saddle and moving it backward, a swinging arm, me'ch anism for moving the arm back and forth from alignment with the saddle to stitching position, a lever pivotally mounted on said arm, a leveler pivotally mounted on said lever, a fixed cam for oscillating said lever independently of said arm, and a fixed cam and'a cam on said arm for oscillatin leveler independently of saidlever an arm.

14. Mechanism for feeding signatures to a book stitching machine comprising a fixed saddle formed of opposed plates with a space between their upper edges, a pusher movable along said space, mechanism for moving the pusher forward and backward,

means movable longitudinally and transversely for raising the pusher above the upper edges of the plates at its backward position and for lowering the pusher below the upper edges .of the plates at its forward position, a swinging arm formed of opposed plates approximating the shape of the saddle, and mechanism for oscillating said arm back and forth from alignment with the saddle to stitching position.

15. Mechanism for feeding signatures to a book stitching machine comprising a fixed saddle with a longitudinalslot in its top, a slide adapted to reciprocate below the top of the saddle, mechanism for reciprocating the slide, a pusher pivoted to and movable with said slide, means movable longitudinally below the top of the saddle for swing-- ing the pusher through said slot above and below the top of the saddle as it is reciprocated with said slide, a swinging arm and mechanism for oscillating the arm back and forth'from alignment with the saddle to stitching position.

' 16. Mechanism for feeding signatures to a book stitching machine comprising a fixed saddle with a longitudinal slot in its top, a slide adapted to reciprocate below the top of the saddle, mechanism for reciprocating the slide,..a pusher pivoted to and movable with the slide, means movable longitudinally and transversely below the top of the said saddle for swinging the pusher through said slot above and below the'top of the saddle as it is reciprocated with said slide, a swinging arm, and mechanism for oscillating the edges of said plates at its forward position,

and movable means in alignment with the saddle for receiving the books advanced by said pusher.

ERNEST W. CLARK. CARL SCI-IRAMM. 

